Gauff vs. Mboko: Clash of Power and Promise at the Italian Open
Fourth seed Coco Gauff begins her Italian Open campaign today against qualifier Victoria Mboko in what marks their first-ever meeting. Gauff, who received a first-round bye, faces the 18-year-old Canadian fresh off a dominant straight-sets win over Italy’s Arianna Zucchini.
Mboko, ranked a career-high No. 156, has put together an impressive 30-3 record this season, spanning both the ITF circuit and WTA-level matches since debuting as a wildcard at the Miami Open. Despite her success on the lower-tier circuit, she has yet to advance past the round of 32 at a WTA main-draw event.
Gauff, currently ranked world No. 3, enters with renewed confidence after a finalist run at the Madrid Open, boosted by a statement win over Iga Swiatek on clay. Although she fell to Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets, albeit in a tightly contested match with a second-set tiebreak.
The American looked sharper and more composed than in earlier tournaments. Her 2025 season started strong with a quarterfinal finish in Melbourne, but inconsistency crept in until a recent turnaround with back-to-back deep runs in Stuttgart and Madrid.
With Gauff finding her groove and Mboko riding a breakout year, this second-round clash in Rome brings two players on opposite ends of their career arcs but with something to prove. Gauff is looking to maintain her momentum heading into Roland Garros, while Mboko aims to show she can hang with the sport’s elite.
Coco Gauff and Victoria Mboko do not have a head-to-head record yet. Their match at the Italian Open today will be their first-ever meeting.
| Coco Gauff | Category | Victoria Mboko |
| 3 | Ranking | 156 |
| 248-106 | Career W-L | 99-41 |
| 19-7 | YTD W-L | 30-3 |
| 10 | Career Titles | 0 |
| 1 | Grand Slams | 0 |
| 1 | YTD Titles | 0 |
Gauff is the clear favorite in today’s Italian Open second-round match against Mboko. Gauff’s recent form, including a strong run to the Madrid Open final, and her experience on clay courts give her a significant advantage. Mboko, while impressive on the ITF circuit and showing promise in her WTA appearances, is still gaining experience at this level.
Prediction: Coco Gauff in straight sets
Here are the betting odds according to BetMGM:
Coco Gauff: 1/10
Victoria Mboko: 13/12
